Participatory wildlife health and disease surveillance: a promising new field Matilde Tomaselli, DVM PhD Program Alumna, Department of Ecosystem and Public Health Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary ADED National Teleconference Rounds January 22, 2019
The practical example: PhD project - study system #1 Arctic circle Tree line Local knowledge Scientific knowledge Participatory Muskox Health Surveillance
The practical example: PhD project - thesis #2 Improved Wildlife Health and Disease Surveillance through the combined use of Local Knowledge and Scientific Knowledge Overall aims Investigate how Local Knowledge can improve the veterinary surveillance for wildlife and how the combination of Local Knowledge and Scientific Knowledge within a participatory framework can improve the surveillance output Full thesis document available at http://hdl.handle.net/1880/107597
Presentation and acknowledgements #3 Supervisors Committee Members Drs. Sylvia Checkley and Susan Kutz Drs. Carl Ribble, Craig Gerlach and Brett Elkin Thank you to the residents of Cambridge Bay whose collaboration and generous intellectual contributions made my graduate project possible and successful
Presentation outline #4 INTRODUCTION Importance of and challenges for wildlife health surveillance Traditions referenced for development of research project Background on the study system THE PARTICIPATORY MUSKOX HEALTH PROJECT Five main thesis chapters Surveillance activities developed Connections among surveillance activities and output CONCLUSION Broader application of the approach Participatory Muskox Health Surveillance
Introduction Veterinary surveillance and wildlife health surveillance #5 Veterinary Surveillance is the ongoing collection, collation, analysis of information related to animal health, and the timely dissemination of this information so that action can be taken OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 2017 Adapted from OIE, 2010 Picture credit University of Alaska
Introduction Veterinary surveillance and wildlife health surveillance #6 Veterinary Surveillance is the ongoing collection, collation, analysis of information related to animal health, and the timely dissemination of this information so that action can be taken OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 2017 Interventions Wildlife management (animals, habitat) Wildlife and biodiversity conservation Safeguard human and animal health Peterson and Ferro 2007; Artois et al. 2009; OIE 2010 Adapted from OIE, 2010
Introduction Challenges to wildlife health surveillance #7 Challenges from initial data aquisition and field data interpretation Adapted from OIE, 2010 Difficulties accessing the animals / finding cases Lack of demographics for the target population Lack of validated tests Selection and measurment bias Lack of representativeness Logistical and financial restrictions
Introduction Learning lessons from other experiences #8 Participatory surveillance (PS) for livestock diseases Ethnoveterinary knowledge Participatory epidemiology (PE) on livestock diseases Sensitive and timely tool to identify cases of disease + conventional veterinary diagnostics Used to confirm cases, increasing the specificity of the surveillance Participatory appraisal techniques e.g., semi-structured interviews, graphic and scoring exercise e.g., Mariner & Paskin 2000; Jost et al. 2007; Catly et al. 2012
Introduction Learning lessons from other experiences #9 Participatory surveillance (PS) for livestock diseases Ethnoveterinary knowledge Participatory epidemiology (PE) on livestock diseases Sensitive and timely tool to identify cases of disease + conventional veterinary diagnostics Used to confirm cases, increasing the specificity of the surveillance Modified from Allepuz et al. 2017 Participatory appraisal techniques e.g., semi-structured interviews, graphic and scoring exercise e.g., Mariner & Paskin 2000; Jost et al. 2007; Catly et al. 2012
Introduction Learning lessons from other experiences #10 Adaptive management of natural resource Ecological knowledge Wildlife co-management systems Used to complement scientific information on Wildlife distribution, abundance and trends Wildlife behavior and body condition Interspecific interactions Ecosystem and habitat changes Qualitative methods Modified from Brook & McLachlan 2008 e.g., interviews, workshops, collaborative fieldwork, questionnaires e.g., Berkes et al. 2000; Huntington 2000; Davis & Wagner 2003; Huntington et al. 2004
Introduction Learning lessons from other experiences #11 Participatory surveillance for livestock diseases Ethnoveterinary knowledge Adaptive management of natural resource Ecological knowledge Novel application of local knowledge for wildlife health surveillance
Study area #12 Arctic circle Tree line Victoria Island 217,291 km² Cambridge Bay Iqualuktutiaq Settled in 1921 1,700 people Map generated in QGIS 2.8.9 Natural Resources Canada 2018; Statistics Canada 2016
Study area #13 1920s 1960s 1970s Library of Congress Archives Iqaluktutiak Heritage Societey Iqaluktutiak Heritage Societey 2014 2015 2018
Study area The species of study #14 Muskox Ovibos moschatus 1,2 Cold-adapted ungulate Early 1900s almost extinct 1917 active management Recolonization of range 1 Tener 1958; 2 Lent 1999; 3 Kutz et al. 2013; 4 Kutz et al. 2015
Study area Need to understand muskox health #15 Banks Island Victoria Island CANADA Muskox Ovibos moschatus 1,2 Cold-adapted ungulate Early 1900s almost extinct 1917 active management Recolonization of range 2008 2012 Recent concerns Lungworm emergence and expansion 3 Communities 1 Tener 1958; 2 Lent 1999; 3 Kutz et al. 2013; 4 Kutz et al. 2015
Study area Need to understand muskox health #16 2013 Muskox Ovibos moschatus 1,2 Banks Island CANADA Cold-adapted ungulate 2012 2009 Victoria Island Early 1900s almost extinct 1917 active management Recolonization of range 2011 2010 Recent concerns Lungworm emergence and expansion 3 Die-off events Erysipelorthrix rhusiopathiae 4 Communities Halt to commercial harvest Photo credit S. Kutz 1 Tener 1958; 2 Lent 1999; 3 Kutz et al. 2013; 4 Kutz et al. 2015
Project overview #17 Individual interviews Local knowledge Scientific knowledge Hunter-based sampling Group interviews Participatory activities Feedback sessions Field disease investigations Targeted scientific studies
Surveillance activities implemented #18
Surveillance activities implemented #19
Documenting local knowledge The interview process #20 Individual interviews Small group interviews Understand the local context Baseline on muskox health July September 2014 n=30 participants Purposeful sampling and thematic saturation Probing muskox health themes Obtaining quantitative PE data November December 2014 n=7 groups (19 participants) Triangulation and participatory exercises Tomaselli et al. Arctic & Cons Biol (2018)
Documenting local knowledge The interview process #21 Individual interviews Small group interviews Understand the local context Baseline on muskox health July September 2014 n=30 participants Purposeful sampling and thematic saturation Probing muskox health themes Obtaining quantitative PE data November December 2014 n=7 groups (19 participants) Triangulation and participatory exercises Tomaselli et al. Arctic & Cons Biol (2018)
The interview process Participatory appraisal techniques #22 Participatory mapping Participatory drawing Timeline of events Seasonal calendars Proportional piling Tomaselli et al. Arctic & Cons Biol (2018)
The interview process Schematic of proportional piling #23 Tomaselli et al. Cons Biol (2018)
Documenting local knowledge The interview process #24 Feedback sessions validation of analyzed data Presentation of analyzed results to allow feedback Spring 2015 and 2016 n = 31/38 ; n = 26/30, Increasing data reliability Tomaselli et al. Arctic & Cons Biol (2018)
Documenting Local Knowledge The local context #25
Chapter 2 Exploring the local context #26 Why does exploring the local context matter for wildlife health surveillance?
Chapter 2 Importance of muskoxen #27 Elder (Interviewee 4) Muskoxen have always been our meat, an important source of food [They] were always there also when other food were scarce. But now muskoxen are scarce Inuk hunter (Interviewee 15) I have learned from Elders that muskox are important and I am the next [generation] after the Elders It is important that younger generations try to keep the tradition, but muskox herds are declining Tomaselli et al. Arctic (2018)
Chapter 2 Other data gathered #28 Platform for identification of problems and solutions Local decline of caribou of Dolphin and Union herd Loss of traditional harvesting/management practices Interpretation of data on muskox health Description of the different types of muskox harvests Butchering methods, parts consumed, and cultural taboos Public health risk mitigation Interactions that can potentially increase pathogen transmission Tomaselli et al. Arctic (2018)
Interviews to co-design the hunter-based sampling #29 co-design
Interviews to co-design the hunter-based sampling #30 co-design The hunter-based sampling has been implemented since 2014 and is still ongoing
Documenting Local Knowledge Participatory epidemiology on muskox health #31
Chapter 3 Documenting PE data on muskox health #32 How can local knowledge contribute to wildlife health assessment?
Chapter 3 Muskox demography relative abundance #33 Participatory drawing R 2 =0.65 Inuk hunter (Interviewee 27) «in 2006 or 2005 there was probably 4 times as much muskox around as there is today» Tomaselli et al. Cons Biol (2018)
Chapter 3 Muskox demography decline #34 R 2 =0.65 85% (IQR 75-90) Proportional piling Inuk hunter (Interviewee 27) «in 2006 or 2005 there was probably 4 times as much muskox around as there is today» Tomaselli et al. Cons Biol (2018)
Chapter 3 Comparison pre-decline vs. decline periods #35 c From the pre-decline to the decline period proportion of young proportion of muskoxen in poor body condition size of herds and distance between herds observation of mortalities, including cases consistent with disease outbreaks R 2 =0.65 trends of morbidity, including newly observed abnormalities Tomaselli et al. Cons Biol (2018)
Number of cases Chapter 3 Muskox mortalities consistent with disease outbreaks #36 Passive Known prior surveillance interviews Cambridge Bay 2010 10 Photo credit S. Kutz Tomaselli et al. Cons Biol (2018)
Number of cases Chapter 3 Muskox mortalities consistent with disease outbreaks #37 Participatory Known from surveillance interviews Passive Known prior surveillance interviews Participatory mapping 10 Photo credit S. Kutz Tomaselli et al. Cons Biol (2018)
Chapter 3 Muskox mortality consistent with outbreak #38 Participatory mapping Timeline of events Proportional piling Tomaselli et al. Cons Biol (2018)
Chapter 3 Baseline of morbidity: observed lesions and abnormalities #39 ALREADY NOTICED PRIOR THE DECLINE Abscesses and traumas White cysts in meat/heart Swollen joints, limping animals Sand paper disease Warble larvae Liver cysts Lung cysts (liquid and solid) Hoof overgrown/infections Increasingly observed since mid-2000s NEWLY OBSERVED SINCE THE DECLINE Scabby lesions (nose and mouth) White eyes corneal opacity Yellow color of subcutaneous tissue Tomaselli et al. Cons Biol (2018)
Documenting Scientific Knowledge #40 Conventional surveillance activities In this program these activities were informed by local knowledge e.g., logistics, targeting priorities, and data interpretation
Chapter 4 Results Sample kit & field disease investigation Results from a field disease investigation #41 Why does collaboration with hunters and prompt field disease investigation matter for wildlife health surveillance?
Chapter 4 Results Sample kit & field disease investigation Results from a field disease investigation #42 Summer 2014 Orf-like lesion observed in a outfitted-hunted muskox Tomaselli et al. JWD (2016)
Chapter 4 Results Sample kit & field disease investigation Results from a field disease investigation #43 Summer 2014 The field site Cambridge Bay Tomaselli et al. JWD (2016)
Chapter 4 Results Sample kit & field disease investigation Results from a field disease investigation #44 Summer 2014 Specific diagnosis to the observations made by hunters Contagious ecthyma Orf virus Rangiferine brucellosis Brucella suis biovar 4 Tomaselli et al. JWD (2016)
Chapter 4 Results Sample kit & field disease investigation Results from a field disease investigation #45 Summer 2014 Specific diagnosis to the observations made by hunters Contagious ecthyma Orf virus Rangiferine brucellosis Brucella suis biovar 4 Tomaselli et al. JWD (2016) PE data on muskox health Orf-like lesions Observed in 2004, 2008 in bulls and in 2012 in a dead calf Brucella-like syndromes Noticed since the 1980s trend since mid-2000s Tomaselli et al. Cons Biol (2018)
Chapter 5 Results Sample kit & field disease investigation Results from a targeted scientific study #46 Brucella in muskoxen of the western Canadian Arctic 1989-2016, a transdisciplinary approach Matilde Tomaselli, Brett Elkin, Susan Kutz, Jane Harms, Ingebjørg Nymo, Tracy Davison, Lisa- Marie Leclerc, Marsha Branigan, Mathieu Dumond, Morten Tryland, Sylvia Checkley Submitted to EcoHealth (accepted) How can local knowledge inform and help interpretation of data from scientific studies?
Interconnection Results between Sample surveillance kit & field activities disease investigation #47 PE data on muskox health number of muskoxen since mid-2000s proportion of young Brucella-like syndromes since mid-2000s Sport-hunted muskox - Summer 2014 Euthanized cow - Spring 2015 Isolation of Brucella suis biovar 4 + Existing samples archives Commercial harvest Study to assess Brucella exposure and infection in muskoxen
Chapter 5 Results Study Sample to assess kit & Brucella field disease exposure investigation and infection in muskoxen 1989-2016 #48 Legend Sampled area Serology positive(brucella spp.) and/or microbiology positive (Brucella suis biovar 4) sample n= 1822 Many challenges for data interpretation n= 405 n= 95 n= 864 Unknown characteristics of serology assays Different type of assays used Different type of blood samples tested Missing information on the study population Inadequate sample size Cross-sectional study design Tot samples n = 3186 Tomaselli et al. EcoHealth (accepted)
Chapter 5 Results Study Sample to assess kit & Brucella field disease exposure investigation and infection in muskoxen 1989-2016 #49 Legend Sampled area Serology positive(brucella spp.) and/or microbiology positive (Brucella suis biovar 4) sample n= 1822 n= 405 Cambridge Bay area Multiple knowledge sources, including PE confidence in the results obtained n= 95 n= 864 Cambridge Bay serology data trend of Brucella exposure since the population peak of the late 1990s Tot samples n = 3186 Tomaselli et al. EcoHealth (accepted)
Chapter 6 Lessons learned and broader application #50 Wildlife surveillance: from global challenges to local solutions, learning from the Muskox Project in Canada s Arctic Intended for submission to the Scientific Review of the OIE What is the value of participatory wildlife health surveillance and its potential for broader application?
Chapter 6 Results Sample kit & field disease investigation Lessons learned and surveillance performance #51 Local knowledge Scientific knowledge Individual interviews Group interviews Participatory activities Feedback sessions Participatory Muskox Health Surveillance
Chapter 6 Results Sample kit & field disease investigation Lessons learned and surveillance performance #52 Filled missing historic/contemporary health data e.g., demography, morbidity, mortality, etc. Identified health changes Informed research questions and hypotheses Supported scientific data interpretation Sensitivity Timeliness Local knowledge Scientific knowledge Reliability Accuracy Made samples available Provided a specific diagnosis Tested research hypotheses Specificity
Chapter 6 Results Sample kit & field disease investigation Participatory wildlife health surveillance - a continuous activity #53 Local knowledge Local knowledge Scientific knowledge New questions New hypothesis Scientific Knowledge Participatory wildlife health surveillance
Chapter 6 Participatory wildlife health surveillance - added values #54 Co-management James Haniliak & Eva Kakolak Co-presenters at ArcticNet 2016
Moving forward Model and to future apply to applications other communities, wildlife species, and settings #55 Local knowledge Scientific knowledge Participatory Wildlife Health Surveillance Promising approach to improve the veterinary surveillance capacity for wildlife in the Arctic and beyond
Acknowledgements ITraP Supervisors Sylvia Checkley and Susan Kutz Committee Members Carl Ribble, Craig Gerlach, Brett Elkin Project collaborators Padraig Duignan, BjØrnar Ytrehus, Sam Sharpee, Morten Tryland, IngebØrg Nymo, Jane Harms, Shane Black, Catherine Brisson, CFIA and CWHC collaborators The grad students, postdocs, and staff of the Kutz lab and Checkley lab EPH group, UCVM Foothills and Spyhill Community of Cambridge Bay and all the study participants! Kitikmeot Inuit Association Paul Emingak, Julia Ogina, Fred Pederson Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization Beverly Maksagak, Bobby Greenley, and the EHTO board Interpreters/translators Eva Kakolak, Emily Angulalik, Henry Ohokannoak Government of Nunavut Lisa-Marie Leclerc, Mathieu Dumond, Shane Sather, Candice Pederson, Allen Niptanatiak, Monica Angohiatok Polar Knowledge Canada Donald McLennan, Johan Wagner, Alain Leclair Nunavut Research Institute Mosha Cote The many friends made along the way!
matilde.tomaselli@ucalgary.ca https://matildetomaselli.weebly.com/